§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the cost-effectiveness of additional spending on the NHS since 1997. [19286]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithGovernment Departments are required to demonstrate that all their expenditure on services provides value for money. The Public Service Agreement between the Treasury and the Department of Health requires NHS trusts to converge over time on a benchmark defined by the cost of care commissioned from NHS trusts which perform well against indicators of fair access, quality and responsiveness. The Treasury monitors progress against the benchmark regularly.